Making a fire insurance claim after your home has been damaged (or lost entirely) is no easy task. You have been through a traumatic event, and now you have to deal with the paperwork and bureaucracy of an insurance claim to get the funds you need to recover from the loss
Homeowners facing a sizable claim should consider getting help when it comes to negotiating with the insurer. As the cost of insurance claims has risen steadily over the years, insurers are doing everything they can to minimize their own expenses. That comes at a direct cost to homeowners who are left to pay out-of-pocket for many expenses that the insurance does not cover.
Whether or not you choose to hire someone for house fire insurance claim help, these are the first steps you should take in just about any claim.
1) File Your Claim in Writing
After a fire, your insurer should be among the first calls you make, though you will also need to contact them in writing to officially file your claim.
Only once you file can the process begin. Delays in filing can also cause problems down the line, as the insurer expects you to file your claim right away.
2) Get the Details of Your Policy
Your Long-Form Policy will have more details that will give you an idea of what to expect. Your Long-Form Policy will have information such as:
- Specific coverage for the Structure, Contents, and Additional Living Expenses portions of your policy
- Your homeowners insurance deductibles and coverage limits for specific types of property
- The types of loss that are covered by your policy (i.e., fires, wildfires, water damage, flooding, and theft)
- The type of coverage that applies to each section of your policy (i.e., Guaranteed Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value)
Once you have all of these details in hand, you should be better prepared to handle your claim because you know what you are entitled to under the policy.
3) Photograph the Damage
Once the fire department has given you clearance to re-enter your home, you may want to photograph the damage yourself. This can help you identify lost furniture and other belongings or create your own record of the damage that you can use later on in the claims process.
If you make an attempt to secure and salvage sentimental items and family treasures, make sure you document them in place before removing them. Talk to your insurer about this, as your attempt to salvage them may not be successful.
4) List Your Lost Belongings
An important part of your insurance claim is listing all of the belongings that were lost or damaged in the fire. You will have to create a list of your lost belongings and submit it to the insurance adjuster. The more details you can provide on this list, such as the original price you paid or the place you bought it from, the better.
6) Track Your Costs
In addition to Contents and Structure, your Additional Living Expenses are also an important part of your policy. This covers the extra costs you face due to being displaced from your home while repairs are being made. Be sure to keep track of all of your receipts and expenses so that you can easily crunch the numbers and submit them to the insurer to substantiate your claim.
